The
day auction of Contemporary Art at Sotheby's New York May 10, 2012 is
highlighted by several very fine sculptures by Alexander Calder
(1898-1976), a great sculpture by Louise Nevelson (1899-1988), a couple
of excellent sculptures by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), a great
painting by Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985), a nice abstract painting by
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932), a good painting by Richard Diebenkorn
(1922-1993), and a good painting by William Baziotes (1912-1963).

Lot
101, an untilted painted metal and wire sculpture by Calder, is
property of the family of Henri Seyrig, one of three in the auction.
It is 8 inches wide and is dated circa 1947. It has an
estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. It sold for $602,500.

The
catalogue notes that Mr. Seyrig was an archaeologist, a numismatist and
a historian of antiquity who was also a major patron of many major
modern masters.

"Calder,"
the catalogue continued, "challenged the notion of static art, creating
a new scuptural language of fluidity and motion. Renowned for
their elegant geometric simplicity, craftsmanship, and playfulness, the
present works are a testament to the artist's imagination and talent
for organic composition."

Lot
104, "The Orange Table, is a fine painted metal and wire sculpture by
Calder that was made in 1942 and measures 17 1/4 by 15 by 8 1/4 inches.
It is property formerly in the collection of Glenn and Louise
Grohe. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $2,546,500.

In
1943, Calder became the youngest artist to be honored with a
retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and on opening
day the Grohes fell in love with this piece that was near the front
desk and convinced the artist to sign it, according to the catalogue
and this is the catalogue's back-cover illustration.

Lot
123, "La Chauve Souris (The Bat)," is a painted metal sculpture by
Calder that was made in 1966 and measures 21 by 21 1/2 by 19 7/8
inches. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $506,500.

Lot
223 is a fine enamel on steel sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein entitled
"Small Explosion (Desk Explosion)." It is 21 1/4 inches high and
was created in 1965. It is number 2/8. It has an estimate
of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $422,500.

One
of the auction's most impressive works is "Night Wall III," Lot
169, by Louise Nevelson, a 1976 large painted cor-ten steel sculpture.
It is one of Nevelson's most excellent works and has an estimat
eof $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $782,500.

Lot
134 is a fine gouache on paper mounted on canvas by Jean Dubuffet that
measures 12 3/8 by 16 1/4 inches. It was painted in 1947.
It has an estimate of $90,000 to $120,000. It sold for $206,500.

Lot 205, "Untitled," by Richard Diebenkorn, gouache on two joined sheets of paper, 31 by 21 inches, 1977

Lot
205 is a classic Ocean Park composition by Richard Diebenkorn.
Untitled, it is a gouached on two joined sheets of paper that
measure altogether 31 by 21 inches. It was painted in 1977.
It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.